Molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus spp. isolated from critically ill COVID-19 patients: Implications for suspected COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) in a Brazilian tertiary referral hospital.
Severe COVID-19 patients in Brazil harbor diverse Aspergillus species with 100% showing non-wild-type phenotypes against posaconazole, indicating emerging antifungal resistance.
- Why it matters: Limited data from middle-income countries hinder understanding of Aspergillus species distribution and resistance patterns in COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis, risking ineffective treatments.
- What they did: Analyzing 17 Aspergillus isolates from 15 critically ill COVID-19 patients in São Paulo during 2020-2021, species were identified via sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS, and susceptibility tested for key antifungals.
- The result: Findings reveal multiple Aspergillus species with reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs, emphasizing the importance of susceptibility testing and ongoing resistance surveillance to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies.